An object is to provide a 2-benzyl-4-{2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-methylimidazole compound useful as an antioxidant for copper surface, a curing agent for epoxy resins, or an intermediate for medicaments and agricultural chemicals. A 2-benzyl-4-{2,4-dichlorophenyl) -5-methylimidazole compound represented by the formula (I). The compound can be synthesized by reacting a 2-halogenated 2',4'-dichloropropiophenone compound with an arylacetamidine compound under heating in the presence of a dehydrohalogenating agent in an organic solvent. wherein X1 and X2 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom, or a bromine atom.
